Folding chair



Aug. 16, 1927. 'L 1,638,879 w. c. RASTETTER FOLDING CHAIR Filed July 1926 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 a lNVENT(-)R L ATTORNEY I 1,638,879 .w. c. RASTETTER FOLDING CHAI R Aug. 16, 1927.

Filed July 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 16, 1927.

w. c. RASTETTER FOLDING CHAIR FildJuly 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W i INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

WI LIAM C. rusrnrrnn, or orm WAYNE, INDIANA... v

FOLDING oHA In.

Application filed July 2,

This invention relates to improvements in folding chairs, and the object thereof is. to provide a structure, of its class, having folding members so arranged and connected to-' gether as to admit a free movement when the members are beingfolded, and so that the members will be thoroughly braced when the chair is extended and occupied. Another object is to provide a chair havingfoldlng parts including a seat, rear legs, and supports therefor, that will readlly fold into the frame of the chair seat. I

These objects are accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichj-- Fig. 1 is a side elevation bodying the'invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation projected from Fig. 1;

Fig.

of a structure em- 3 is a detail view of on'eof the swing-- ing arms and corresponding sustaining bar,

the arm being in section; Fig. 4 is a detail view showing'the sliding connections between the back of the chair and one ofthe swinging arms; u

F ig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the connected relation between the main frame, and rear leg structure and the seat;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary'rear view'of the invention in modified form; f

Fig. 7 isa side elevation projected from Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective'view of a sw nging arm and sustaining bar employed in the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7; I I

Fig. 9 is a sideelevation showing the invention in another modified form.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation projected from Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a view of a swinging armand sustaining bar employed in the modified form of the invention shown inthe Figures 9 and 10, the View showing the inner face of the assembled arm and bar.

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters. I

The invention comprises a frame 1 including spaced legs 2 connectedtogether by a cross rod 3 uponwhich is pivoted a (pair-of rear legs 4, which rear legs are held spaced apart by a cross brace 5 and a tie rod 6. The cross rod 3 extends through the upper swinging arms,

1926. Serial No. 120,049.

ends 5 of the cross brace 5 and has upsets 7 that bear against the inner faces of the cross brace ends 5 repectively. Adjacent each leg 2 of'the main frame, and upon the cross rod 3,-is positioned a sleeve 8 that extends through the'corresponding rear leg 4, andbears against the outer face of the adjacent end 5 of the cross brace 5.

Upon each end of the tie rod 6 in the rear leg structure is pivoted a sustaining bar '9 that extends upwardly therefrom and has a pivoted connection 10 with a folding'sea-t 11 at the rear end thereof, which seat is connected with the transverse rod 3 by means of a pair of links 12, one adjacent the outer face of each rear leg 4, the corresponding sleeve 8 extending through-the link at its forward end, and the rear end of the'link being connectedto the seat 11 by a pivot 13.

I Apair of swinging anns 14 are pivoted in the main frame, as indicated by 15, respectively against the inner faces of the corresponding legs 2, and each arm has an inturned flange 16 on each side thereof, between which flanges is positioned the upper end'17 of the corresponding sustaining bar 9 which has longitudinal "sliding movement relative thereto. The outward swinging movement of the rear legs 4 is accompanied bysliding movement-of the upper ends 17 of the sustaining bars 9 in the corresponding which sliding movement is limited by contact of the connections 10 respectively with the corresponding swinging arms 14, and thus the backward spread of the rear legs relative to the front legs'is limited." i

A back rest' 18 made preferably of'flexible material, such as laminated wood, is'secured at its upper end in the frame, and is sustained therein by a cross piece 19. The lower end of the back 18 has at each side thereof a connection 20 that has sliding movement vertically on the corresponding swinging arm 14, whereby the back rest is sprung rearwardly with the swinging arms with'outbinding when the chair is extended for use.

In the modified form of the invention, shown in Figuresfi, 7 and 8, there are employed sustaining bars 9- that are pivoted respectively at their lower ends on the tie rod 6, in the rear legs 4, their upper ends being connected tothe rear end of the seat 11" by corresponding pivots 10. In connection with each leg 2 is a swinging-arm '14 that is pivoted at its upper end to the corresponding leg 2, as indicated by 15. The lower end of each swinging arm has a pair of inturned ears 25 that loosely clasp the corresponding sustaining bar 9, and has also a longitudinal slot 26 therein through which the corresponding pivot 10 projects, and upon which pivot said swinging arm has limited sliding movement.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11, there are employed sustaining bars 9" that are pivoted respectively at their lower ends on the tie rod 6 in the rear legs 4 each bar having therein a pair of longitudinal slots 28 and 29. The rear legs 4t are pivoted on the transverse rod 3" mounted in the front legs 30, and a seat 31 has connection with the rod by means of links 32, which seat is also connected at its rear end to the sustaining bars 9 by means of corresponding pivots 33. In connection with each front leg 30, at a point spaced from its upper end, is a pivoted swinging arm 34f, the pivot being indicated by 35, said swinging arm extending parallel with and overlapping the corresponding sustaining bar 9". Each swinging arm has limited longitudinal sliding relation with the corresponding bar, there being rivets 36 and 37 fixed in the swinging arm and extending loosely through the corresponding slots 28 and 29 in the bar, which rivets have movement therein. A swinging back rest 38 is supported on pivots 39 in the upper ends of the front legs-30, and has at its lower end, at each side thereof, aloop 40 that encompasses the corresponding overlapping arm and bar so as to have support therefrom.

In utilizing the invention the chair is folded by swinging the seat 11 upwardly upon its pivotal connections 10 into the frame. By the action of the links 12 the rear end of the seat is drawn forwardly as the seat is raised, and the sustaining bars 9 and the swinging arms in connection therewith are drawn forwardly accordingly, so that the rear legs are thereby folded into the frame. Then the seat is extended into position for occupancy, the seat bears downwardly upon the sleeves 8 on the transverse rod 3, while its rear end is prevented from having upward movement because of the contact of the connections 10 with the lower ends of the swinging arms. Also the rearward spread of the rear legs is likewise limited by contact of said connections with said arms.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the operation of the various parts is the same as in the former instance, except that the downward movement of the swinging arms on the sustaining bars is limited by the engagement of the pivots 10 in the slots 26 in said arms.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11, the operation of the various parts is similar to that in the former instances, except that downward movement of the swinging arms on the sustaining bars is limited by the rivets on the swinging arms which operate in the corresponding slots 28 and 29 in the sustaining bars.

hat I claim is:

1,. A folding chair comprising spaced forelegs; a transverse rod connecting said forelegs; a pair of sleeves on said rod one adjacent each foreleg; a pair of rear legs through the upper ends of which said sleeves extend respectively; a cross brace, the lower ends of which are connected to the rear legs, and the upper ends of which are secured by said cross rod against the inner ends of the corresponding sleeves; a pair of supporting members connected respectively with the upper portions of the forelegs and the lower portions of the corresponding rear legs, each supporting member consisting of a sustaining bar extending upwardly from the rear leg, and a swinging arm extending downwardly from the corresponding foreleg and overlapping said sustaining bar and having limited sliding movement thereon; a seat having pivotal connection at its rear end with said sustaining bars, and linked connection with said sleeves; and a back rest having supported connection with said forelegs at the upper ends thereof, and sliding connections at its lower ends with said swinging arms.

2. A folding chair comprising a main frame including spaced side members, constituting forelegs, and a transverse rod connecting said members; rear legs pivotally connected in the main frame; a pair of swinging arms pivoted in the main frame; a pair of sustaining bars pivoted respectively on the rear legs and having limited longitudinal sliding relation with the corresponding swinging arms; a seat having pivotal connection at its rear end with said sustaining bars; links pivoted respectively at their rear ends to the seat at points thereon spaced from its rear end, the opposite ends of said links having pivotal connection in the main frame; and a back rest supported in the main frame and having sliding connection at its lower end with said swinging arms.

3. A folding chair comprising spaced forelegs; a transverse rod connecting said forelegs; rear legs connected at their upper ends on said rod; a pair of supporting members connected respectively with the upper portions of the forelegs and with the lower portions of the corresponding rear legs, each supporting member consisting of a sustaining bar and a swinging arm overlapping said bar and having limited longitudinal sliding movement thereon; a seat having linked connections with said transverse rod and pivotal connections at its rear end with said sustaining bars; and a back rest supported by the forelegs and having sliding connection at its lower end on said supporting members. 7 I p 4:. A folding chair comprising a main frame including spaced side members, constituting forelegs, and a transverse rod connectingsaid members; rear legs connected in the main frame; a pair of swinging arms pivoted in the main frame; a pair of sustaining-bars pivotedrespective- 1y on the rear legs and having limited longitudinal sliding relation with the corresponding swinging arms; a seat having pivotal connection at its rear end with said sustaining bars; and links pivoted respectively at their rear ends to the seat at points thereon spaced from its rear end, the oppopivotally site ends of said links having pivotal connection in the main frame.

5. A folding chair comprising spaced forelegs; a transverse rod connecting said forelegs; rear legs connected attheir upper ends on said rod a pair of supporting members connected respectively with the upper portions of the forelegs and with the lower portions of the corresponding rear legs, each supporting member consisting of a sus taining bar and a swinging arm overlapping said bar and having limited longitudinal sliding movement thereon; and a seathaving linked connections with said transverse rod and pivotal connections at its rear end with said sustaining bars.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM C. RASTETTER. 

